SF3720
Building code administration modification
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: HF4598
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill changes how building code work can be handled in Minnesota. It allows municipalities to take over certain building code duties from the state when they have enough trained inspectors. The goal is to make plan review, inspections, and enforcement of building codes for public buildings and state-licensed facilities more local and efficient, while keeping state oversight where needed.
Main Provisions
Municipal agreement for all building projects (Subd.2)
- The state building code commissioner may enter into an agreement with a municipality (not the state) to provide plan review, inspection, code administration, and code enforcement for public buildings and state-licensed facilities in that municipality’s area.
- The municipality must request these services and show that it has enough adequately trained and qualified inspectors or staff to provide them.
- The commissioner must consider all inspectors and code enforcement staff employed, under contract, or obligated to provide these services, when deciding if there are enough trained personnel.
- The commissioner must put the acceptance criteria in writing and share them with the municipality.
- If the commissioner finds deficiencies, a written explanation must be provided to the municipality.
- The municipality may fix the deficiencies and request a reconsideration, which must be in writing and include supporting documentation. The request for reconsideration must be received within 90 days.
- The commissioner will review the information and issue a final decision within 30 days of the request.
- If the municipality disagrees with the final decision, it may appeal to a contested case under state law (chapter 14).
Municipal agreement for certain building projects (Subd.3)
- The commissioner may also enter into an agreement with a municipality to handle plan review, inspections, code administration, and code enforcement for “reserved projects” on public buildings and state-licensed facilities, if the municipality has a designated building official as required by existing law (section 326B.133) and asks to provide these services.
- Reserved projects include a specific list of types of work (see below) plus other projects the commissioner later designates as reserved.
Reserved projects list (Subd.3, items 1–8)
- 1) Roof covering replacement that does not add roof load
- 2) Towers requiring special inspection
- 3) Single-story storage buildings not exceeding 5,000 square feet
- 4) Exterior maintenance work including replacement of siding, windows, and doors
- 5) HVAC unit replacement that does not add roof load or ventilation capacity
- 6) Accessibility upgrades not involving building additions or structural changes
- 7) Remodeling that does not change the building’s occupancy, structural system, exit access or discharge pattern, or mechanical load
- 8) Other projects the commissioner determines to be reserved
How this changes existing law
- Expands the role of municipalities in building code administration by allowing them to provide plan review, inspection, and enforcement for public buildings and state-licensed facilities, given criteria on qualifications are met.
- Establishes a formal process for determining whether a municipality has enough trained inspectors, including written criteria, opportunities to remedy deficiencies, and a right to reconsideration and a state-contested-case appeal.
- Introduces a defined category of “reserved projects,” with specific examples of work that municipalities may handle, subject to designation by the commissioner, along with the requirement of a designated building official.
- Creates clearer, written procedures and timelines for decisions, remedies, and appeals, shifting certain responsibilities from the state to local governments when conditions are met.
Key terms and phrases (to look for in the bill)
- municipal agreement
- plan review
- inspection
- code administration
- code enforcement
- public buildings
- state-licensed facilities
- commissioner (building code authority)
- adequately trained and qualified inspectors
- criteria (written)
- reconsideration
- contested case (chapter 14)
- designated building official
- reserved projects
- roof covering replacement
- towers requiring special inspection
- accessibility upgrades
- remodeling
- building official designation
Relevant Terms - municipal agreement - plan review - inspection - code administration - code enforcement - public buildings - state-licensed facilities - commissioner - adequately trained inspectors - criteria - reconsideration - contested case - designated building official - reserved projects - roof replacement - towers - accessibility upgrades - remodeling
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Labor on: February 24, 2026 12:30
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 19, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Labor |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A requirement that the commissioner enter into an agreement with a municipality to provide plan review, inspection, code administration, and code enforcement for public buildings and state-licensed facilities.",
"Written criteria to determine whether the municipality has enough adequately trained inspectors.",
"Written explanation of any deficiencies and an opportunity for the municipality to remedy them.",
"A reconsideration process with a 90-day deadline to request reconsideration.",
"A requirement that the commissioner issue a final determination within 30 days of the reconsideration request.",
"A right to appeal the final decision as a contested case under Minnesota Statutes chapter 14."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 326B.107 Subd. 2 to create a municipal agreement framework for plan review, inspection, code administration, and code enforcement on public buildings and state-licensed facilities. It requires the commissioner to enter into an agreement with a municipality (not the state) upon request, and to assess whether the municipality has enough adequately trained inspectors. The bill establishes a written criteria requirement, a process for addressing deficiencies, an opportunity for remedy, a right to reconsideration, a final determination timeline, and a contested-case appeal pathway under chapter 14 for aggrieved municipalities.",
"modified": [
"326B.107 Subd.2 amended to implement a municipal agreement framework and associated procedural requirements."
]
},
"citation": "326B.107",
"subdivision": "2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Subd.3 establishing municipal agreements for reserved projects.",
"Enumerated list of reserved projects (roof-related, towers, small storage buildings, exterior maintenance, HVAC replacement, accessibility upgrades, remodeling, and other projects designated as reserved by the commissioner).",
"Requirement that a designated building official (as referenced by section 326B.133) be available to provide those services."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill adds Subd.3 to authorize municipal agreements for certain reserved projects related to plan review, inspection, code administration, and code enforcement. It defines what constitutes reserved projects and requires a designated building official, as required by section 326B.133, to provide those services.",
"modified": [
"326B.107 Subd.3 amended to include the concept of reserved projects and the associated service provisions."
]
},
"citation": "326B.107",
"subdivision": "3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Reliance on the designation of a building official as required by 326B.133 for participation in the municipal agreements."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill makes reference to 326B.133 in connection with requiring a designated building official as a prerequisite for providing services under the municipal agreements described in 326B.107 Subd.3.",
"modified": [
"326B.133 is referenced to ensure municipalities have a designated building official to provide services under the amended Subd.3."
]
},
"citation": "326B.133",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Provision that aggrieved municipalities may be heard as a contested case under chapter 14 for certain decisions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill invokes Minnesota Statutes chapter 14 to provide for contested-case procedures in relation to aggrieved parties challenging the commissioner’s decisions under these amendments.",
"modified": [
"Chapter 14 application is specified for contested-case proceedings related to municipal agreement decisions."
]
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 14",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee